300 Cases of Illness Reported After Tough Mudder Race in California
An outbreak of illnesses has been reported after a Tough Mudder race in Sonoma County, California. The Sonoma County Department of Health Services estimated that there have been around 300 cases of illness related to the event.
The health advisory was issued by the county last week after participants in the August 19-20 Tough Mudder event at Sonoma Raceway reported symptoms such as rash, fever, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting. Matt Brown, a spokesman for Sonoma County, stated that the 300 cases reported so far are a “conservative estimate.”
The county’s advisory mentioned that the Tough Mudder race involved extensive exposure to mud, which could be a factor in the illnesses. Symptoms experienced by the affected individuals could indicate a minor illness called Swimmers’ Itch, but they could also be indicative of more serious bacterial infections like Staph infection or Aeromonas.
Aeromonas is a type of bacteria commonly found in aquatic environments and can be present in mud and certain types of food. Infections caused by Aeromonas can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms and other complications, such as kidney disease, meningitis, and skin and wound infections.
Sonoma County is urging healthcare providers to take cultures from infected patients and report the results. However, they are operating under the assumption that Aeromonas is the primary cause of the infections resulting from the event.
Tough Mudder, the company responsible for organizing the race, is cooperating with the county and conducting its investigation. They have reached out to all registered participants and are communicating the county health advisory to spectators. Tough Mudder is recommending that individuals seek medical attention if they experience unresolved or worsening rash, flu-like symptoms, fever, fatigue, or nerve pain.
Charlie Bernard, a spokesman for Tough Mudder, assured that all necessary protocols were followed before and during the event. The company is actively investigating to understand exactly what occurred and is sympathetic to those affected by the outbreak.